Inspection gauge



Nov. 3, 1953 A. E. LYONS INSPECTION GAUGE Filed April 12, 1952 lllii 22C Y INVENTOR.

IIIIIIIIII El ALBERT E. LYEINS 1E- I AMU ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 INSPECTION GAUGE Albert E. Lyons, Midland Park, N. J assignor to Curtiss-Wrig ht Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application April 12, 1952, Serial No. 282,043

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-172) This invention relates to inspection gages and is particularly directed to an inspection gage for determining the lack of coincidence, if any, of the parallel axes of two surfaces of revolution.

In the case of a body having two surfaces of revolution whose axes are intended to be coaxial and it is not readily possible to rotate said body about the axis of either of said surfaces, it has been the practice to make a separate determination of the eccentricity, if any, of the axis of each said surface with respect to the axis of a surface also intended to be co-axial with said first two surfaces. From these separate determinations the eccentricity of the axes of said two surfaces of revolution relative to each other could be determined. An object of the present invention comprises the provision of a novel and simple inspection gage for directly indicating any eccentricity of the axes of two surfaces of revolution of a body while said body i being rotated about another axis.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the annexed detailed description in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an inspection gage embodying the invention;

'Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views to a reduced scale taken along line 22 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate modifications of Fig. 1.

Referring first to Figs. 1-3 of the drawing, a part it has an external cylindrical surface I 2 and has a pair of internal cylindrical surfaces M and it. The surfaces I4 and it are intended to be co-axial with respect to each other and with respect to the external cylindrical surface i2. Due to manufacturing tolerances and/or errors the axis XX of the surface I 4 may be laterally displaced from the axis YY of the surface It? a distance d, as best seen in Fig. 1. An inspection gage it has been provided for directly indicating the magnitude of the eccentricity 11 while the part It is rotated about the axis of the surface I2. As will appear, the operation of the inspection gage 20 is not affected by any lateral eccentricity of the external cylindrical surface i2 relative to either or both of the axes of the surfaces i l and it such as results from manufacturing tolerances and/or small manufacturing errors.

The gage 20 comprises a base portion 22 for supporting the gage on a horizontal surface such as the surface 23. A post 26 is secured to the base 22and extends upwardly therefrom at right angles to the horizontal surface 26. The post 26 extends through a slide or body member 28 which is slidably movable along said post. A first compression spring 30 is disposed between the base 22 and the body member 28 and a second compression spring 32 is disposed between the body member 28 and a nut 34 adjustably threaded on the upper end of the post 26. Thus the nut 34 is adjustable to vary the compression of the spring 32 thereby changing the intermediate position along the post 26 toward which the body member 28 is urged by the springs 3d and 32. That is, the nut (it is adjustable to vary the normal position of the body member 28 along the post 26.

A conventional dial indicator 35 is supported on the body member 28 by bracket 38. The dial indicator 35 includes an axially movable plunger or spindle 4B which is geared to the dial pointer 52 so that axial movements of the spindle cause rotational movements of the point 52. A spring at urges the spindle 40 toward its extended position. For purposes of illustration, the spring it has been shown as disposed about the external portion of the spindle 46. Actually, however, in the common conventional dial indicator the spring at is disposed within the indicator.

An arm 66 is pivotally supported on the body member 28 at 47 intermediate the ends of said arm. One end of the pivotally supported arm it has a contact portion as which is arranged to engage one of the cylindrical surfaces [4 and it. As illustrated the contact portion 48 of the arm 38 is disposed in engagement with the surface i 5 of the part it while said part is supported on a horizontal V-block 5a with the external cylindrical surface l2 of said part being received between the sides of the horizontal V-shaped channel of said block 55. The other end of the pivotally supported arm it is disposed in engagement with the spindle so of the dial indicator 36. The spring pressed spindle do of the dial indicator 36 holds the contact end 43 of the arm 46 in engagement with the cylindrical surface it.

A hollow bracket member 52 is also secured to the body member 28 and projects laterally therefrom. An arm it has one end slidably fitted within said bracket member 52 and a screw 55 serves to anchor the arm 54 in various positions of longitudinal adjustment along said member 52. The other end of the arm Ed has a contact portion 58 disposed in engagement with the cylindrical surface 54. The points of engagement of the contact arms 46 and 54 with the surfaces It and M, respectively, are disposed on substan tially opposite sides of the axis of the part It, as best seen in Fig. 3.

In use, the gage 20 must be positioned and the nut 34 adjusted so that the contact end 53 of the arm 54 is resiliently held down against surface M by the spring 32. The gage parts are so dimensioned, that with the contact end .53 of the arm 54" resiliently held down against the surface T4, the contact end 38 of the arm 36 is resiliently held up against the surface It by the spring pressed dial spindle 353.

With the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the part is rotated in the V block 50 whereupon the arm 54 and springs 39 and 32 .will cause the body member 28 tdmoyeyertically along the post 2-6 in response to any eccentricity between the axis XX and the surface it and the horizontal axis of the external surface [-2 about which the body [0 is being rotated. The arm 45 and dial indicator 36 are also supported iirtth'ia body member 28 so that the dial indicator willrspond only to a lack of co-incide'nce of the axis and Y- Y regardless of any small latral eccentricity of either or both said axes with "ect to the'axis of the surface l2 such as res ""f rom manufacturing tolerances and/or 1 manufacturing errors. Thus the dial indicater 36"wil1dir'ectly indicate the eccentricity d. If'the two'rnoment arms of the pivotally mounted arm" 46 a're 'quai then'the eccentricity id will be ediial toone-half the maximum deflection range of thedial pointer as the part is is rotated through at least one revolution. For convenience thega'g'e 20 hasbe'en described as being supported on a horizontal surface with the post 23 upright. Obviously, however, the gage may be used in any position "provided only that the relative positions of the gage and the axis of rotation of the part to be inspected is the same as illustrated. That is, the axis of the post 26 should be transverse to the axis of rotation of the part 1%].

illustrated in Fig. 1, the pivotal mounted contac't'arin 45 of the gage 26 engages the larger diameter cylindrical surface it while the other cdntactarm E l-engages the smaller diameter cylliidric'al'su'rfacel" Obviously, however, the gage may bedesigned so that the pivotally mounted arm engages the smaller of'the two cylindrical s'lir'f'ace's. In addition, instead of cylindrical surfaces 'offrevoluti'on, the surfaces M and it may be anysurface of revolution. Thus either or both th'esiiifabes 'l t and lfi may be a conical surface offrevolution. For example, the surface l4 may be cylindrical and the surface I6 is conical. Such a gage'is' illustrated in Fig. 4. In addition, a seco'nddial indicator has been added to the gage in Ei'gi i." Except for this addition the gage of Fig. 4 is basically the same as that of Fig. 1 and those portions of Fig. 4 corresponding to the portions oiZFig. 1 have been designated by the same reference' numerals but with a subscript it added thereto.

' InFig, 4, the ,pivotally. mounted contact arm 48 engagesthe annular conical surface [6a and the asprovidedbythe v block 50a, the dial indicator indicate directly the lateral eccentricity, if any, of thea xis of the surface ifia relative to the axis of the surface l2a. At the same time the dial indicator 36a indicates the lateral eccentricity, if any, of the axes of the surfaces 14a. and [6a. Obviously such a second dial indicator 60 may also be added to Fig. l in which case the second dial would directly indicate the lateral eccentricity, if any, between the axis of the surface l4 and the axis of the surface I'2. Except for the differences discussed, the gage 20a is like the gage 2-33 of Fig. 1.

In the gages of Figs. 1 and 4, the gage directly indicates the lateral eccentricity, if any, between the parallel axes .of two internal surfaces of revolution of a part while the part is being rotated about the axis eff a third surface intended to be co-axial with said other two surfaces. As will be apparent, however, the gage may be modified to indicate the eccentricity between the parallel axes of an internal annular surface and an external annular surface, or between tWo external surfaces, of a part as said part is being rotated about the axis of a third surface. Such modifications are illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 5, the portions corresponding to the portions of Fig. 1 have been designated by like reference numerals but with a subscript b added thereto. In Fig. 5, a part lflb has an external cylindrical surface l6?) engaged by the pivotally mounted gage arm G62) and an internal cylindrical surface engaged by the other gage arm 5%. The part we has a third cylindrical surface l2b having a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of the surface Nib and life. In addition the part lilb is mounted with its surface [21) disposed in a V- block 5% for rotation about the axis of said surface. The remainder of the gage 36b is essentially the same as the gage 36 of Fig. 1. Accordingly in Fig. 5 the gage 36!) directly indicates the lateral eccentricity, if any, between the axes of the surfaces 14b and lfib.

In Fig. 6, the portions corresponding to the. portions of Fig. l have been designated by like reference numerals but with a subscript 0 added thereto. In Fig. 6, a part l 00 has an external cylindrical surface engaged by the pivotally mounted gage arm 45c and has a second external surface l ic engaged by the other gage arm 540. The part lflc has a third cylindrical surface 520 having a horizontal axis parallel to the axes of the surfaces Hlc and His. In addition, the part N30 is mounted with its surface 20 disposed in a V- block 500 for rotation about the axis of said surface. Except for the differences discussed the gage-3&0 is essentially the same as the gage 35 of Fig. 1. Therefore as the part lilo is rotated in the V-block the dial indicator 36c directly indicates the eccentricity, if any, between the axes of the surfaces Me and-15c.

A second dial indicator disposed similar to the dial indicator to of Fig. i may obviously be added to the gage 3% and/orto the gage 350.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications.

I- claimas my invention:

1. An inspection gage comprising a post member; a body member mounted on the post member-for movement therealong; a first spring disposed between one end of said post member and @saidbody member for-urging said body-member in one direction along the post member; a second spring disposed between the other end Of said post member and said body member for urging said body member in the other direction along the post member; adjustable means carried by the post member for varying the force of one of said springs on said body member; a first arm secured to the body member for movement therewith; a second arm pivotally mounted on the body member; and a dial indicator mounted on the body member and engageable with the pivotally mounted arm for indicating pivotal movement of said second arm wtih respect to said first arm.

2. An inspection gage for determining the magnitude of any lack of co-incidence of the parallel axes of two surfaces of revolution of a part; said gage comprising a support member; a body member mounted for movement along a linear path relative to said support member; a first spring acting between said support member and body member and urging said body member in one direction along said path; a second spring acting between said support member and body member and urging said body member in the opposite direction along said path; a first arm secured to said body member for joint movement therewith and engageable at one end with one of said surfaces; adjustable means carried by said support member for varying the force of one of said springs for urging said arm end toward contact with said one surface; a second arm engageable at one end with the other of said surfaces and pivotally mounted on the body member for pivotal movement with respect to said body member in response to changes in the spacing between the surface contacting ends of said arms, the points of engagement of said arms with said surfaces being on opposite sides of said axes, spring means acting between said body member and said second arm for pivotally urging said end of said second 4 arm toward contact with said other suriace; and

means for indicating pivotal movement of said second arm relative to said first arm and body member.

3. An inspection gage for determining any lack of co-incidence of the parallel axes of two surfaces of revolution of a part; said gage comprising a support member having a post extending therefrom; a body member mounted on said post for movement therealong; a first spring carried by said support member for urging said body member in one direction along said post; a second spring carried by said support member for urging said body member in the opposite direction along said post; a first arm secured to the body member for joint movement therewith and engageable at one end with one of said surfaces; adjustable means carried by said support member for varying the force of one of said springs for urging said arm into contact with said one surface; a second arm engageable at one end with the other of said surfaces and pivotally mounted on the body member for pivotal movement with respect to said body member in response to changes in the spacing between the surface contacting ends of said arms the points of engagement of said arms with said surfaces being on opposite sides of said axes; spring means acting between said second arm and said body member for pivotally urging said end of said second arm toward contact with said other surface; and means for indicating pivotal movement of said second arm relative to said first arm and body member.

ALBERT E. LYO'NS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,427,152 Moore Sept. 9, 1947 2,480,891 Van Winkle Sept. 6, 1949 

